This Week

Hymn Sing

Sunday, September 6

This Sunday is our annual Labor Day Weekend Hymn Sing! In place of a traditional sermon, we will reflect on and sing our favorite hymns and songs of worship from the Chalice Hymnal. Please bring the page numbers of your favorite hymns with you on Sunday!

Food Pantry

Sunday, September 6

We invite your gifts of non-expired, non-perishable staple food items, baby items, household cleaning supplies, and small toiletries for the FISH pantry. The following items are especially appreciated by our partner organizations:

baby formula and food, rice cereal

canned meats, chili, pastas fruits & vegetables

cereal, juice boxes, mac & cheese, pasta & sauces

disposable diapers, pull-ups and baby wipes and home cleaning supplies

More Church News

Welcome Back To Church School!

Church School for children and youth begins Sunday, September 13, following the Time with Children at 10:00 AM worship. Registration tables will be open in the atrium beginning at 9:30 AM and again at 11:00 AM. Parents with children 18 years and younger will receive an email with a registration form and further information. Registration forms are also available at www.lrucc.org. A Welcome to Church School brochure is available in the atrium and narthex. We look forward to an exciting, faith-filled year ahead!

Come Share Yourself by helping with Church School!

The new church school year begins on September 13, and the children of Little River UCC are anxiously waiting to share in your faith journey, and have you share in theirs! Volunteers are still needed to assist with Godly Play; and Jr/Sr High School (male assistant needed); and substitutes are always welcome. Please consider sharing your time and talents! Interested? Questions? Please contact
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,
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, or
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or sign up in the narthex.

Join the Youth or Children's Choir

The Salt of the Earth Choir welcomes children in grades 1-5 to rehearse regularly and sing in services throughout the school year. Beyond the children’s church school experiences, this choir offers an opportunity to learn a variety of musical traditions, instruments, and choral techniques in an atmosphere of fun, sharing their accomplishments periodically with the congregation. This experience offers a wonderful foundation for developing young musical talents. The Salt of the Earth will begin rehearsals on September 13 at 12:00 pm after the “Welcome Back” picnic.

The Joyful Noise is a choir for youth in grades 6-12. This choir performs a variety of music from classical to folk, including many contemporary anthems. Singers learn to work with others and develop their musical talents in a Christ-centered environment. Joyful Noise assists at worship on a regular basis and will begin rehearsals on September 20 at 11:15 am.

Seeking "Welcome Center" Hosts

Every Thursday afternoon during the academic year, the “Welcome Center” gathers in the Jubilee room to meet with English as a Second Language (ESL) students from the NVCC Annandale Campus. These students are trying to improve their English listening and speaking skills while learning more about America. This year we need volunteers who are available between the hours of noon and 3:00 pm to come and meet these young people. You do not need any special English skills, just a willingness to listen and make them feel welcome. If interested in coming for all or part of the time or just occasionally, that would be very helpful. If you would like to meet these students from all over the world, please contact Ellen Wertman (703-764-3741 or
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) or Richard Davidson.

Adult Faith Formation for Fall

Welcome to the 2015-2016 Adult Faith Formation offerings. The Board of Christian Education has worked to create many new ways for you to discover the many expressions that God shows us each day. These offerings are tailored to our creative side, our academic side, our spiritual side, and our fun-loving side. Come share yourself and your story as we journey together in a life of faith. Read more about this year's offerings.

Visioning for the Future of Little River

Are you passionate about Little River's future? Did you enjoy the Visioning conversations in April? Do you enjoy collaborating with fellow church members on important projects? Then Little River needs your help! A task force has been created to pair our April conversations with demographic information about our community. This group, led by Rev. Dr. David Lindsey, will meet regularly in the coming six months to draft a compelling, achievable vision for our congregation over the next several years. A report on their findings will happen at a Congregational Meeting this fall, with a full presentation and vote at the Annual Meeting in January. Please email David at
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if you are interested!

College Addresses Needed

We would like to stay in touch with Little River college students as they study near and far! Please send college addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for current students, and new contact information for recent graduates to Darlene Lane at
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or (703) 978-3060.

Stewardship Reminder

Please remember to continue your regular financial support of the church through the summer. It takes $14,000 per week to provide our ministries to members, communities and the wider church. You may make or schedule donations at any time using the Online Giving button at the bottom of this page.

Save the Date

Medicaid Expansion: Who Benefits?

Thursday, September 10

The Board of Outreach and Social Justice encourages you to attend this free, informative forum about Medicaid expansion. Hear from informed community leaders about this most important topic. The event is sponsored by the Arlington League of Women Voters, in conjunction with the Northern Virginia Chapter, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. To reserve a seat, please email
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and visit the League of Women Voters of Arlington website for additional details.

Rally Day and "Welcome Back" Picnic

Sunday, September 13

Rally Day is the day when Church School for children and youth and all other Faith Formation begins. In general, the entire church community kicks into high gear. So help rev up your appetite for our end-of-summer "Welcome Back" picnic immediately following the 10:00 AM worship service. The church will supply beverages, barbecue sandwiches, and hot dogs; the remainder is potluck. Lots of volunteers are needed for setup and cleanup, so please notify Lois Wyatt, Judy Miller, James Taylor, or Clark Beil if you are able to help.

Monday Morning Bible Study – The Apostle Paul

Monday, September 14

From The Great Courses, Historian Luke Timothy Johnson offers a fresh and historically grounded assessment of the life and letters of Christianity's "apostle to the Gentiles" in this video series. "One of the most fascinating, important, and controversial figures in the religious history of the West, Paul the Apostle continues to find champions and detractors, sometimes in surprising places," says Professor Johnson. Discussions are led by Richard Davidson. Please join us at 10:00 AM in Room 8 beginning September 14.

Women's Book Group

Sunday, September 20

Save the date and start reading All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr for the September Women’s Book Group discussion. The group will meet in room 7 from 12:15 to 1:30 PM on September 20 to discuss this enthralling story about a blind French girl and an orphaned German boy/soldier whose lives intersect during the end of Germany's occupation of France in 1944 during WWII. The writing is vivid and the novel explores human nature at both its best and its worst. All are invited to attend the discussion.

Tea and Talk at Greenspring

Saturday, September 26

Join other women of Little River for tea and talk at Greenspring, sponsored by the Women’s Ministry Team. We will meet at the Greenspring Village Square in the Accotink Room from 1-3:00 pm). We look forward to seeing many of you for this always delightful gathering to connect with old and new friends in our church community of women.

Please register at the welcome table in the church foyer as we need a headcount of our participants by September 18.

Summer is Winding Down!

Upcoming Schedule

Sunday worship: 10:00 am only, through September 13.

September 13: Rally Day. This is the day when Church School for children and youth and all other Faith Formation begins. In general, the entire church community kicks into high gear. We'll have an End-of-summer, “Welcome Back" Picnic taking place immediately following the 10:00 am service.

We will resume two worship services on Sunday, September 20.

Office hours: 9:00-2:00 Monday through Friday, through Labor Day. The office will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day and we will resume office hours of 9:00-4:00 Monday through Friday on Tuesday, September 8.

To communicate with staff outside of office hours, please leave a message (
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, 703-978-3060). Staff members will respond when they are in the office. For urgent matters, please contact David or Hank on their cell phones.

Church Council News

Minutes and more

As of August 13, 2015, Moderator-Elect, Rob Peters, will be the Acting Moderator of Little River. Please direct all questions for the Moderator to Rob at this time.